Jeju: Police said Wednesday they have sought an arrest warrant for the driver of a deadly car accident on an island off the southern resort island of Jeju that claimed three lives and injured nearly a dozen people. On Monday, the rental van driven by the 62-year-old plowed into pedestrians before ramming into a signpost on Udo Island, shortly after disembarking from a ferry.

According to Yonhap News Agency, a 60-something woman inside the vehicle and two pedestrians-a man in his 70s and another in his 60s-were killed, while 11 people were injured. Police said they requested the warrant due to concerns of flight and evidence destruction after detaining the driver on charges of causing the fatal accident hours after the crash.

Witness accounts suggest the vehicle suddenly accelerated shortly after it got off the ferry and traveled about 150 meters before slamming into the signpost. An initial police investigation found the driver was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.

The driver has reportedly blamed sudden unintended acceleration for the cause of the accident. A police official said they have yet to find signs of sudden unintended acceleration, noting that footage from surveillance cameras near the accident showed the vehicle's brake lights did not come on.

Police are currently examining the vehicle in cooperation with the National Forensic Service and the Korea Road Traffic Authority and seek to analyze its event data recorder.